Saturday, August 8, 2009

The End of the Line



USO Members greet servicemen returning home for R & R. What a treat to see the
crowds gathered and clapping for these fine young men!

Last night I flew into the Atlanta Airport expecting to zip right on home to Birmingham. NOT! I found the last two flights to BHM overbooked and after trying to catch the airport shuttle (the last one had already left the airport) and rent a car ( they wouldn't accept my temporary driver's license), I decided to go to a nearby hotel and wait till morning for the 10:30 shuttle to BHM. That worked and by 12:30 we drove into BHM and I was home at last. Today a few shots I took at the airport. Tomorrow we'll be back to normal here with photos from the Magic City. Thank you all for you good wishes as I made my way home from France. It's nice to be home and I have many , many  wonderful memories of my trip. You can see more photos on http://paristhroughmylens.blogspot.com of course.



This is how the baggage carousel looks when your luggage is lost somewhere in the northern hemisphere.  La sigh!

Now I know why these guys are extinct....... they flew standby and never left the airport.

23 comments:

alice said...

Ha, ha, I see you didn't lost your sense of humour over the ocean! I'm very happy to know you're at home, at last. Amitiés.

alice said...

Sorry, you didn't lose ;-)

Virginia said...

Alice,
Trust me, I lost my sense of humor and my composure a few times but regained it. I met some really nice people while I was in all those airports and that really helped.

Rip said...

Wow, you have been through a lot! Glad you are home safely!

Lowell said...

Funny! Probably not when you're going through all that, though...

That first photo looks very similar to the USO TV commercial we see over and over again...

I'm to Paris through your lens now.

Harriet said...

I had a good laugh at your caption on the last photo. You DO have a way with words!

Glad you're home. Try to get some rest....but I'll bet you're one of those energizer bunny types.

marley said...

Your trip home was almost as long as your stay in france! lol!

Great to have you back proper :)

Unknown said...

Now you deserve a proper rest after this odissey, V.! The airport shots are fantastic and I had to LOL after reading your last comment about the Jurasssic creatures! :-)

Char said...

:) I've been there before - the shuttle is not that bad if you don't look at his speedometer

Virginia said...

Char,
I was so thrilled to be on the fast track to BHam I didn' care!

Harriet,
Thanks for taking the time to phone me last night and let me know my blogs had gone, "Poof!" Don't know how it happened or how it was fixed.

Rip,
Tell you mom we have to do lunch. Hope your first day at the Middle School is just a great one. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Mrs.J

Julie said...

Welcome back! A wrench I know ... but you will return to France, I just know it.

I am planning my trip for the northern Autumn of 2010 - cycling the Canal du Midi tow path. Barging is beyond my budget. Half the fun is the planning ...

Jane Hards Photography said...

But remember, we always have France.
Good to see you home in one piece as we say in the UK.

Thérèse said...

I am glad all ended so well... so you will try again for a trip to France.... lol

Virginia said...

Thèrése,
Now what do you think? I will however not leave the states without a "real" ticket next time!!! I've promised myself not to let those 4 days overshadow the fabulous time i had. It was just the best of times. Trés trés bonne ! (bon?)

B,
I'm not quite on one "piece" cause I left my heart there.

Rob said...

I'll keep my eyes peeled for your wayward luggage. Of course if it contains any vino, I may have to make sure it didn't go bad. You know me, always looking out for you.

Ken Mac said...

welcome home V

Judy - So California said...

V, Welcome Home! Well at least this is a tale to tell. Love this post - the USO welcome, hope it's not YOUR missing luggage AND even Dave got a chuckle out of the extinct standby! Glad you're back safely.

Maya said...

I remember seeing so many men and women in fatigues at the Atlanta airport. It made me sad to think about them going off to war!

TheChieftess said...

Very funny!!! I immediately could picture the frazzled traveler...hair a bit mussed, eyes puffy from just waking up, clothing a bit skewed, frantically searching for the lost luggage...

Love to see the soldiers and their greeters!!! Especially when they are being met by family!

Kim said...

I almost had an asthma attack reading your quip on that last photo, I'm laughing so hard (and I DON'T have asthma!). OMGosh! Welcome home Ms. V. I know Birmingham and all your fam and friends will be so glad to have you back in their midst.

Tash said...

Touching 1st photo and snortingly funny 3rd photo.

Unknown said...

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Kcalpesh said...

KoOL is that a real dino - skeleton? Nice angle on that shot! :-)